atomistic
/,ætə'mistik/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Divided into separate and often disparate elements: Describes something that is composed of distinct, individual parts that are considered in isolation rather than as part of a connected whole. This perspective emphasizes the components over the system.
- Relating to atomism or the theory that complex systems are best understood by analyzing their simplest, constituent parts: Pertaining to the philosophical or methodological approach that explains phenomena by breaking them down into their most basic, indivisible units.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- The researcher took an atomistic approach, studying each neuron independently before considering the brain's overall function.
- Some critics argue that his atomistic view of society ignores the importance of community and social bonds.
- The atomistic model of physics, which described matter as composed of tiny particles, was a major step in scientific thought.
Advanced Usage
"Atomistic individualism": A philosophical or political viewpoint that sees society as merely a collection of separate individuals, with no inherent collective identity or common good beyond the sum of individual interests.
- The policy was criticized for being based on atomistic individualism, neglecting how community support systems function.
"Atomistic competition": In economics, a market structure characterized by a large number of small, independent buyers and sellers, where no single participant can influence the market price.
- Perfect competition is an atomistic market model with many negligible participants.
Variants and Related Words
Atomism (n): The theory that complex ideas, social structures, or physical matter arise from the combination of simple, indivisible parts.
- Ancient Greek atomism proposed that the universe was composed of invisible, indestructible particles.
Atomistically (adv): In a manner that involves separating something into its basic, constituent parts.
- The problem was analyzed atomistically, which provided detailed data but missed the bigger picture.
Synonyms
- Reductionist: Explaining complex phenomena by reducing them to simpler or more fundamental levels.
- Particularistic: Focusing on individual elements or cases rather than on general principles or the whole.
- Discrete: Individually separate and distinct.
Antonyms
- Holistic: Emphasizing the importance of the whole and the interdependence of its parts.
- Systemic: Relating to or affecting an entire system.
- Integrative: Combining parts into a whole.
Adjective
-
divided into separate and often disparate elements
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